SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Championship Banquet To Honor 2013 Standouts – Photo: Jim Pettit and Bob Elliff

Bakersfield, CA — This Saturday at the world renowned Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, the top teams of the 2013 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, the SRL S2 Series and the SRL Legends Tour will be honored.

At the top of the honors list will be the 2013 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series champion, Jim Pettit II, who will be accepting his third SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Championship Cup.  The Prunedale, California driver and his entire Moeller Bros./HUR Engines team under the ownership of Quentin Bammer will be recognized on center stage. While on stage Pettit will be awarded a championship jacket presented by Hoosier Tire, his championship winnings and the 2013 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Championship Cup.  Additionally, Pettit’s long time crew chief Duane Sharp will be presented with his third “Mo’sGold Championship Crew Chief Award”.

Pettit and his team earned their championship title by putting together wins at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Redwood Acres Raceway and Kern County Raceway; along with five runner-up finishes in 2013.  Pettit also won the series title in 2008 and 2011.

“We race to win championships and it means a lot to win this one for Quentin (Bammer),” stated Pettit.  “We win and lose as a team.  The effort of everyone on the team is what wins championships.  Everyone works hard, but we never lose sight that we need to have fun at the races, and our team is pretty good at having a good time.”

At Saturday’s SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Championship Banquet, the top 10 drivers and owners of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will be honored on stage.

Championship runner up, Jeremy Doss, will also be honored for winning the 2013 “SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Rookie-of-the-Year” and the “Flowmaster Young Guns” title, for drivers 23 years old and under.

The top 10 in the 2013 SRL S2 Series will be honored, including inaugural S2 series champion, Ryan Cansdale.

The top 5 drivers of the SRL Legends Tour will be presented awards on stage, with Ricky Schlick taking the top honors as 2013 champion.

Three special awards will be presented on Saturday; the “Jeff Anthony Spirit of 76”, the “Bob Elliff Award” and the new “Pete Holko Perseverance Award”. The “Jeff Anthony Spirit of 76” is presented in honor of the late Jeff Anthony, the 2002 SRL champion, awarded each year to an individual who has exemplified unparalleled support and commitment to the sport and the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. The “Bob Elliff Award” is presented in honor of SRL Chaplain Bob Elliff who lost his battle with cancer in 2009.  Bob’s presence at the racetrack made the series a “better place” and with that distinction, the award is presented annually in his name. The “Pete Holko Perseverance Award” presented in the name of long time series official Pete Holko, who we lost to cancer during the season. This award will be presented to a team or driver who showed the spirit of pure determination in the face of adversity during the race season.

The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will be celebrating its 13th season at Saturday’s banquet, with more than 200 people in attendance.